EDITOR’S NOTE: When The County Record went to press at 11 a.m. Tuesday, the official report on the following case had not yet been released and events were still unfolding. This is an updated version of what appears in our Wednesday print edition.

Steve Mears, Jr., 38, has been charged with domestic battery and assault.

Ben Bussey, a depression era child, was born on January 4, 1926, in Jacksonville, Florida, and was raised in St. Mary, Georgia.
He began working at the age of 9 as a school janitor for $8 a month, and then contracted to run the school furnaces. When his family moved to Waycross, Georgia, he had a paper route until he entered the Navy at the age of 17. As a member of “The Greatest Generation,” he served in the United States Navy during WW II as a radioman first class on a light aircraft carrier, the USS Monterey, and a destroyer escort, the USS John M. Bermingham.
As A WW II veteran, Ben attended FSU on the GI Bill and lived in the Dale Mabry barracks and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. While attending FSU, he met Violet Bateman of Bristol, Florida, whom he married in 1949. This 46-year marriage was blessed with four sons: Charles (Stephanie) of Mobile, Alabama; Karl of Houston, Texas, Wayne (deceased); and Paul (deceased). Violet and Ben had three grandchildren: Neal Bussey, Ross Bussey, and Tara Bussey Jennings (Joshua); and two great-grandchildren, Joshua Wilson and Kayleighanna Jennings.
Ben loved motorcycles, watching golf, and fishing on the Tom Bigbee River. In the fall, Saturdays were dedicated to FSU football, and in the summer, to the Atlanta Braves. His passion was following the stock market.
Ben worked as an accountant and retired from the State of Alabama after working as an administrator in the state hospital system. Upon his retirement in 1980, he and Violet relocated to Calhoun County where he was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Blountstown, serving as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He was a founding member of the Grumpy Old Men’s Club, a community service group dedicated to service of the elderly. He was a Lions Club officer and member for many years.
Violet passed away unexpectedly in 1994. In February 1995, he married Shirley Johnson Stone. Through this marriage he gained three step-daughters: Janice Kirkland (Dennis), Patsy Parker (Joe), and Linda Arrant (Steve); and became Papa Ben to six step-grandchildren and sixteen step-great-grandchildren.
In his twilight years, Ben enjoyed smoking a pipe, spoiling Sassy cat and eating Babe’s (Shirley) cooking.
The family wishes to express gratitude to family friend Darryl Taylor for his faithful visiting.
At his home on Sunday, January 13, Ben returned to his Heavenly Father.
Services will be held Tuesday, January 15, at 10 a.m. CST at Peavy Funeral Home and interment will follow at the Lake Mystic Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Peavy Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Convenant Hospice.
Peavy Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements (ph. 674-2266).

Robert James “Bob” Gavin, 73, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2013, in Tallahassee.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Southern University and served in the U. S. Navy during the Korean conflict. Bob had worked for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, American Automobile Association, American Telephone and Telegraph, and Chrysler Corporation through the years and retired from Florida Department of Education as a computer analyst. He was a member of Jr. Chamber of Commerce in Clayton County, Georgia, American Red Cross in Tallahassee, and was active with the Wounded Warrior Program and Olympic Committee. He attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Tallahassee.
Preceding him in death were his parents, James A. and Martha Ethel (Jones) Gavin; a brother, Gerald Gavin; and a nephew, Jim Gavin.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Gavin; a son, George Gavin; and his mother-in-law, Reba Shields, all of Blountstown; sisters-in-law, Alice Gavin of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Rita Maupin of Blountstown; a nephew, Jamie Maupin, and his wife, Nanci, of Lynn Haven, Florida; a niece, Mary Saxer, and her husband, Tim, of Spencerville, Indiana; a great-niece, Elizabeth Maupin and great-nephew, John Maupin.
Graveside services were held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 12, in Pine Memorial Cemetery with Reverend Dan Thomas officiating. Interment followed.
Adams Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements (phone 674-5449). Online condolences may be made at adamsfh.com.

David Arthur Rookey, Jr., 84, of Blountstown, Florida, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2013, in Panama City, Florida.
He was born in Oswego, New York, July 23, 1928, to the late David Arthur, Sr. and Hazel (Eaton) Rookey. He was a restaurant equipment technician.
He is survived by a son, Rodger K. Rookey, of Pensacola, Florida; two daughters, Sharon A. Wellman of Mountain Home, Idaho, and Deborah Jean Engel of Blountstown.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements (phone 674-5449). Online condolences may be made at adamsfh.com.

Gun control is one hot topic in the nation, prompting our question of the week: What's your stand on gun control? Some lawmakers believe there should be mental health screenings before guns or ammunition are purchased. Others believe more laws regarding safeguarding weapons is in order. Some want assault rifles banned. Where do you stand? Please post comments on our website or email to news@thecountyrecord.net

A Blountstown woman was booked into the Calhoun County Jail Wednesday, accused of burglarizing an ex-boyfriend's home.

Carla Lea Causey, 32, has been charged with burglary of a structure, grand theft and criminal mischief.

According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, Dep. Jody Hoagland responded to a home on Garrett Drive in Altha Christmas Day. A couple at the home reported they returned to find their front yard scattered with broken dresser drawers and clothing. Inside the home, the living room furniture had been overturned and the kitchen was a mess with garbage dumped on the floor. A pair of partially burnt boxer shorts were also discovered. A woman at the home said she was missing an Ipod, an MP3 player, a camo pellet gun, a Sony PS3 and several unopened Christmas presents. A witness reported seeing Causey at the residence throwing numerous items out the front door.

Dep. Hoagland contacted Causey who allegedly admitted to being at the residence, but claimed she was there with her ex and the woman who resided there with him. She further stated she got into an altercation with the woman, but left only with the presents her ex-boyfriend had given her.

After further investigation, a warrant was issued for Causey's arrest. She was booked into the Calhoun County Jail and given a conditional release.

Charles Franklin Peacock, 98, of Panama City, passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
Mr. Peacock was born December 8, 1914, to the late James Pearson and Georgia Hagan Peacock in Altha, FL. In his earlier years, Charles was a surveyor and taught agriculture with the Calhoun County Extension Agency. He began working as a mechanic at Standard Oil Company in Panama City from 1950 until retirement. Following retirement, he enjoyed welding for a local construction company traveling around the southeast. He was a farmer at heart that showed through in his love for gardening. Mr. Peacock was gifted musically. He wrote songs, played the guitar and the harmonica. He was a member of the Sink Creek Masonic Lodge. Charles was a charter member of Midway Baptist Church in Panama City and later attended Cypress Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Kinard, FL.
Mr. Peacock is survived by his beloved wife of 75 years, Pera Lee Peacock; two sons, Charles S. "Stony" Peacock and wife, Sue Ann, Robert B. Peacock and wife, Kathy; four daughters, Charlotte Davis and husband, Jerrell, Carolyn Prows and husband, Rudolph, Pauline Morgan and husband, Buddy, Roberta Janas and husband, Bob; 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 7, at Southerland Family Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jim Hankins and Chaplain Virgil Tillman officiating. Burial followed immediately in Chipola Cemetery Altha. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Covenant Hospice.
Condolences may be submitted or viewed at www.southerlandfamily.com. All arrangements were under the direction of Southerland Family Funeral Home, 100 East 19th Street, Panama City.